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pragreads's review against another edition
2.0
This books contains parental abuse and homophobia; while the main character condones neither, both remain mostly unchallenged. This was an absolute shitshow.
1. ZORIE'S DAD IS A HOMOPHOBIC, CONTROLLING LIAR WITH ANGER ISSUES WHO PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED A MINOR, BLACKMAILED HIM & REPEATEDLY THREATENED HIM. He's never actively called out on any of these things; the only reason he's villainized in the last chapter is because it's revealed he'd been having multiple affairs. He tells Zorie she isn't 'allowed to see her best friend (Lennon)' or he'll call the cops on him. He monitors her phone to make sure he doesn't text her (behind her back). He convinces her that Lennon ditched her because he's a douchebag rather than telling her Lennon's dad tried to commit suicide and that he was in the hospital with him. To top it all off, all his hatred for Lennon stems from the fact that he has two moms, who he calls "dyke heathens". (These are his neighbors, with whom his wife and daughter have an extremely close relationship. Riiiiiight.)
2. The romance was...................... Not Great. Listen, buddy, I love best friends to enemies to lovers. I even loved Zorie and Lennon together up to a point. But there is a line that separates cute from gross & trying to hard, and this book crossed it. ZORIE WANTED TO HAVE SEX IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FOREST DURING A FUCKING STORM SO SHE LIED TO HER FRIEND, TEACHER AS WELL AS HER MOTHER WHO THOUGHT SHE WAS LOST OR DEAD SOMEWHERE.
3. There are no boundaries or concept of consent?? While I understand they've been best friends for a long time, that's really not an excuse for SPYING THROUGH SOMEONE'S BEDROOM WINDOW WITH A TELESCOPE WHILE HE'S NAKED or KISSING SOMEONE HARD IN THE MIDDLE OF HAVING AN ARGUMENT (AND NOT STOPPING/ PULLING BACK/ ASKING FOR CONSENT). Also, this is how Zorie describes kissing Lennon:
4. Every character except for the protagonist feel like 2D cut outs. Everyone exists purely to further or hinder Zorie's development. Reagan did something to upset Zorie? No worries, Zorie'll just scream at her, and then forget she exists. (This is her "best friend", by the way.) Avani, Brett & Summer? Why should they have personalities when they can just conveniently exist to provide angst and drama and them disappear?
// 1.5 stars (rounded up because i love mac & sunny)
1. ZORIE'S DAD IS A HOMOPHOBIC, CONTROLLING LIAR WITH ANGER ISSUES WHO PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED A MINOR, BLACKMAILED HIM & REPEATEDLY THREATENED HIM. He's never actively called out on any of these things; the only reason he's villainized in the last chapter is because it's revealed he'd been having multiple affairs. He tells Zorie she isn't 'allowed to see her best friend (Lennon)' or he'll call the cops on him. He monitors her phone to make sure he doesn't text her (behind her back). He convinces her that Lennon ditched her because he's a douchebag rather than telling her Lennon's dad tried to commit suicide and that he was in the hospital with him. To top it all off, all his hatred for Lennon stems from the fact that he has two moms, who he calls "dyke heathens". (These are his neighbors, with whom his wife and daughter have an extremely close relationship. Riiiiiight.)
2. The romance was...................... Not Great. Listen, buddy, I love best friends to enemies to lovers. I even loved Zorie and Lennon together up to a point. But there is a line that separates cute from gross & trying to hard, and this book crossed it. ZORIE WANTED TO HAVE SEX IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FOREST DURING A FUCKING STORM SO SHE LIED TO HER FRIEND, TEACHER AS WELL AS HER MOTHER WHO THOUGHT SHE WAS LOST OR DEAD SOMEWHERE.
For the first time, it really hits me that if Lennon and I hadn't stayed in the sequoia grove that second night, no one would have worries that we were missing, and we may not have set off the chain of events that led to all of this.OH BOY. Then there's also this, which creeped me the hell out but Zorie apparently found flattering:
The important thing is I don't have any regrets.
"You wanted to kiss me when we were fourteen?"
"I wanted to do lots of things to you when we were fourteen. [..] By the time you kissed me, I'd built a Zorie vault of sexual fantasies bigger than Fort Knox."
3. There are no boundaries or concept of consent?? While I understand they've been best friends for a long time, that's really not an excuse for SPYING THROUGH SOMEONE'S BEDROOM WINDOW WITH A TELESCOPE WHILE HE'S NAKED or KISSING SOMEONE HARD IN THE MIDDLE OF HAVING AN ARGUMENT (AND NOT STOPPING/ PULLING BACK/ ASKING FOR CONSENT). Also, this is how Zorie describes kissing Lennon:
I'm sth the mercy of my body- which likes his body quite a lot and desperately wants to drop to the ground and let Lennon have his wicked way with me, right here in front of God's Voice. I absolutely would, too. In this moment, I'm a trollop. An unrepentant floozy.:))))
4. Every character except for the protagonist feel like 2D cut outs. Everyone exists purely to further or hinder Zorie's development. Reagan did something to upset Zorie? No worries, Zorie'll just scream at her, and then forget she exists. (This is her "best friend", by the way.) Avani, Brett & Summer? Why should they have personalities when they can just conveniently exist to provide angst and drama and them disappear?
// 1.5 stars (rounded up because i love mac & sunny)
tori_bolton_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Review:
I needed summer vibes, and my second read of Starry Eyes gave me just that.
This, to me, is a perfect YA summer romance. I can't even properly articulate why I hold this book so dear but this is my essence of summer. I find the characters so cute and compelling and I think the setting is so unique and beautifully written.
Now that I have reread, I can definitely see myself rereading each summer.
I needed summer vibes, and my second read of Starry Eyes gave me just that.
This, to me, is a perfect YA summer romance. I can't even properly articulate why I hold this book so dear but this is my essence of summer. I find the characters so cute and compelling and I think the setting is so unique and beautifully written.
Now that I have reread, I can definitely see myself rereading each summer.
thebookberrie's review against another edition
4.0
Nice! This book was almost exactly what I look for in a contemporary.
Zorie and Lennon are best friends turned enemies, after a failed romance happened between them. Ever since, they've avoided each other- which is hard when their parents have shops right next to each other and mail gets misdelivered often. Soon Zorie and Lennon find themselves shoved together during a camping trip that quickly goes wrong, leaving them with only each other. With no one else for company and a long hike across forest and mountains, old feelings and secrets get brought to light, and Zorie and Lennon find themselves falling for each other again.
It's just so cute! I really enjoyed my time reading this book. Zorie and Lennon were both interesting, and they both had their quirks. Watching them slowly fall for each other while facing different obstacles in the woods was both funny and heartwarming. The thing about Lennon- he's weird and to say he's not my type of love interest is an understatement. He's a punk rock goth boy who loves reptiles but he's also really good at camping and outdoorsy things. Even with all that? I still liked him. Zorie is a stargazing nerd who finds herself liking the outdoors only later on but they ended up being a good match. They both had hobbies they cared about and it added such nice flavor. I loved their banter and arguing for sure; I'm just pretty trash for the classic hate to love.
A thing I really enjoyed that was pretty surprising was the parents in this book. Lennon's moms were a stand out for being awesome and supportive while Zorie's mother was also pretty nice, and it was even better after the way things end up going. Maybe I've just read too many YA books where the MC is a jerk to their parents but it just stood out as a thing for me here.
I don't care for camping, at all. I've never been camping (unless you're counting a one day trip back in Girl Scouts) and I've never wanted to go camping. (Do you know how some people have cats that go outside a lot and other people have cats that never go outside? That's me. I'm an inside cat.) BUT this book made me actually not mind it. The author somehow made me care about camping here. I got to experience the great outdoors while not having to actually go outside. I loved it!
Enjoyable, adorable, and the cover is amazing. Would recommend.
Zorie and Lennon are best friends turned enemies, after a failed romance happened between them. Ever since, they've avoided each other- which is hard when their parents have shops right next to each other and mail gets misdelivered often. Soon Zorie and Lennon find themselves shoved together during a camping trip that quickly goes wrong, leaving them with only each other. With no one else for company and a long hike across forest and mountains, old feelings and secrets get brought to light, and Zorie and Lennon find themselves falling for each other again.
It's just so cute! I really enjoyed my time reading this book. Zorie and Lennon were both interesting, and they both had their quirks. Watching them slowly fall for each other while facing different obstacles in the woods was both funny and heartwarming. The thing about Lennon- he's weird and to say he's not my type of love interest is an understatement. He's a punk rock goth boy who loves reptiles but he's also really good at camping and outdoorsy things. Even with all that? I still liked him. Zorie is a stargazing nerd who finds herself liking the outdoors only later on but they ended up being a good match. They both had hobbies they cared about and it added such nice flavor. I loved their banter and arguing for sure; I'm just pretty trash for the classic hate to love.
"We?"One thing that wasn't my favorite? The major conflict was miscommunication and in here it was INSANE how it happened. Why didn't you just talk to each other, god damn.
"You and me, yes."
"The two of us hiking to Condor Peak? Alone?"
"I wasn't planning on inviting the bear along, but if you think we need a chaperone..”
A thing I really enjoyed that was pretty surprising was the parents in this book. Lennon's moms were a stand out for being awesome and supportive while Zorie's mother was also pretty nice, and it was even better after the way things end up going. Maybe I've just read too many YA books where the MC is a jerk to their parents but it just stood out as a thing for me here.
I don't care for camping, at all. I've never been camping (unless you're counting a one day trip back in Girl Scouts) and I've never wanted to go camping. (Do you know how some people have cats that go outside a lot and other people have cats that never go outside? That's me. I'm an inside cat.) BUT this book made me actually not mind it. The author somehow made me care about camping here. I got to experience the great outdoors while not having to actually go outside. I loved it!
Enjoyable, adorable, and the cover is amazing. Would recommend.
desertlover's review against another edition
4.0
"It's not about the monsters. It's about the hero surviving them and living to tell the tale."
I was uncertain about this book early on but ended up enjoying it. I sometimes had a difficult time empathizing with Zorie, but Lennon completely melted my heart. I appreciated the mature themes discussed and look forward to reading more from this author. This a perfect summer read!
PS - The maps are adorable, and I would definitely recommend the real book over an ecopy for that reason.
I was uncertain about this book early on but ended up enjoying it. I sometimes had a difficult time empathizing with Zorie, but Lennon completely melted my heart. I appreciated the mature themes discussed and look forward to reading more from this author. This a perfect summer read!
PS - The maps are adorable, and I would definitely recommend the real book over an ecopy for that reason.
nhi_nguyen's review against another edition
5.0
*4.75
To be honest, I did enjoy Alex, Approximately a little more than Starry Eyes . But both were enjoyable and entertaining reads. One thing I can say though is Jenn Bennett knows how to write because both books were so well-written. I love the characters, especially Lennon and Zorie. I love how diverse Jenn Bennett's character's interests are. I haven't read many of her books but I can tell no two characters are alike in her book.
I did find the build-up to be a little slow, but when everything unraveled and went downhill, it was an exciting ride. Definitely a fun summer read.
To be honest, I did enjoy Alex, Approximately a little more than Starry Eyes . But both were enjoyable and entertaining reads. One thing I can say though is Jenn Bennett knows how to write because both books were so well-written. I love the characters, especially Lennon and Zorie. I love how diverse Jenn Bennett's character's interests are. I haven't read many of her books but I can tell no two characters are alike in her book.
I did find the build-up to be a little slow, but when everything unraveled and went downhill, it was an exciting ride. Definitely a fun summer read.
mhuang's review against another edition
4.0
OK so I accidently binge read this????? I’m not even kidding, it’s 2am right now and I have school tomorrow. I did NOT plan for this to happen but alas, it did. And yet, I’m not giving this 5 stars. Why? Because even though the beginning and the middle were freaking AWESOME (despite two side characters being ridiculous and predictable), the ending dissapointed me a bit. I expected more from it, I suppose.
ninebookishlives's review against another edition
lighthearted
2.5
I'm starting to think ya contemporary romances just aren't for me anymore.
ana_68's review against another edition
5.0
I love Zorie and Lennon so much, usually I like the love interest lead quite less than the mc but I love Lennon sooo much they're both such great characters. I love contemporary romances where you get a lot of the family dynamics of the characters and all the characters feel like actual real people and I get surprised and sad they don't actually exist, that's what makes it become one of my favorite books and this did that. the only thing is I had to ignore every time they mentioned Zorie's fashion style bc why was it ATROCIOUS, sorry for all the color coordinated plaid enthusiasts. also fuck Zorie's dad and Reagan.
I loved serious moonlight sooo much too but I like starry eyes a lot more to where I would include it on my favorite books list and also favorite characters. someone might think there were some slightly cringe parts but idccc
I loved serious moonlight sooo much too but I like starry eyes a lot more to where I would include it on my favorite books list and also favorite characters. someone might think there were some slightly cringe parts but idccc